Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

Hawaii Senate Bill SR187

Introduced
3/7/25  

Caption

Urging The Department Of Education To Establish A Pilot Program At Ewa Beach Elementary School That Provides Ice Cream As A Dessert Option For Students Who Have Good Attendance.

Impact

If the pilot program is established, it could set a precedent for similar initiatives in other schools across Hawaii. The proposed initiative places an emphasis on using manageable incentives to encourage consistent student attendance. This approach could foster a climate of positive reinforcement within schools, which might ultimately lead to improved academic outcomes and a stronger commitment to education among students. Moreover, such a program could also model how schools apply incentives in innovative ways to address attendance issues.

Summary

Senate Resolution 187 (SR187) urges the Department of Education in Hawaii to implement a pilot program at Ewa Beach Elementary School that provides ice cream as a dessert option for students who have demonstrated good attendance. The resolution highlights the importance of school attendance as a predictor of academic success and posits that positive reinforcement can effectively motivate students to attend classes regularly. By offering ice cream as a reward for good attendance, the program aims to create a more engaging and welcoming school environment that boosts student morale and participation.

Contention

While the resolution aims to bolster attendance through a fun and appealing incentive in the form of ice cream, there may be various viewpoints regarding the effectiveness of such a strategy. Critics may argue that a dessert reward might overlook more substantial systemic issues that hinder student attendance, such as socioeconomic challenges or family dynamics. Concerns might also arise about the appropriateness of offering food-related rewards in the context of nutritional education and health responsibility within schools.

Monitoring

The resolution requests that the Department of Education monitor the pilot program's effectiveness and submit findings to the Legislature before the 2027 session. This evaluation phase is crucial to understanding the impact of the initiative on student attendance rates and to ascertain whether such programs could be scaled or modified for broader implementation in other educational institutions.

Companion Bills

HI SCR210

Same As Urging The Department Of Education To Establish A Pilot Program At Ewa Beach Elementary School That Provides Ice Cream As A Dessert Option For Students Who Have Good Attendance.

Previously Filed As

HI HCR219

Urging The Department Of Education To Contract With A Qualified Nonprofit Organization To Establish An Aquatic Safety Education Program For Elementary School Students.

HI HR199

Urging The Department Of Education To Contract With A Qualified Nonprofit Organization To Establish An Aquatic Safety Education Program For Elementary School Students.

HI SR191

Urging The Department Of Education To Start High Schools No Earlier Than 9:00 A.m. And Elementary And Middle Schools No Earlier Than 8:30 A.m.

HI SR140

Requesting The Department Of Education To Assign School Resource Officers Or Guards To Serve At Each Public Elementary School And State Prekindergarten Program.

HI SCR165

Urging The Department Of Education To Start High Schools No Earlier Than 9:00 A.m. And Elementary And Middle Schools No Earlier Than 8:30 A.m.

HI SR7

Requesting The Department Of Education To Transfer The Ewa Beach Public And School Library From The State Public Library System To James Campbell High School.

HI SR187

Requesting The Department Of Education To Rename Noelani Elementary School To President Barack Obama Noelani Elementary School In Honor Of United States President Barack Obama.

HI SR65

Urging The Department Of Education To Require All Public Schools And Charter Schools That Serve Meals To Offer Plant-based Meal Options Prioritizing Ingredients From Locally Sourced And Locally Farmed Products.

HI HR81

Urging The Department Of Education To Incorporate More Plant-based Options In Local Schools.

HI SR128

Urging The Department Of Transportation To Establish A Working Group To Evaluate Options That Provide Additional Air Service To Remote And Underserved Communities Across The State.

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